Given the Yankees outstanding struggles in their starting rotation this year, I have to think Mussina is coming back. He’s been by far their best and most consistent pitcher. Andy Pettitte had an awful stretch run. Like Mussina he is also a free agent. The problem here is that the free agent market is loaded with pitching. And we all know how the Yankees love to go out and overpay for starting pitchers who they think can get the job done. Among the prize free agents are C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt, Ryan Dempster, A.J. Burnett (can opt out of his contract), Randy Johnson, Jon Lackey (club has 09 option), Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Kyle Loshe, Brandon Looper, Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Jamie Moyer, Mark Mulder (club option for 09), Brad Penny (club option for 09), Curt Schilling, John Smoltz, Randy Wolf, Oliver Perez and yes, Carl Pavano.
Wang is the only guaranteed starter for the Yankees in 2009. No one really know if the Yankees are going to continue to wait, or rush, or trade Ian Kennedy and Philip Hughes. After finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the Yankees might be primed for the spending spree of all spending sprees. Then again free agents have shown a reluctance recently to take the unfair and relentless pressure of being a Yankee.
My prediction for the 2009 starting staff:
Chien-Ming Wang
Ben Sheets – will be lucky to make 20 starts a season
A.J. Burnett – is going to walk close to a hitter an inning in NY
Mike Mussina
Philip Hughes/Ian Kennedy/Darrell Rasner/Whoknows
good news
good blog